Read ‘Nightwatcher’ by Wendy Corsi Staub

“Nightwatcher” is the first book in a trilogy by New York Times best-selling author Wendy Corsi Staub. “Nightwatcher” is currently available, the second book in the trilogy, “Sleepwalker” is scheduled for release in September. “Shadowkiller,” which will conclude the trilogy, comes out in February 2013.

Ms. Staub is a master of psychological suspense and has written over seventy-five published novels and has sold more than four million books worldwide.Bestselling author Lisa Jackson has likened her to Mary Higgins Clark and I see the comparison. However, it reminded me more of James Patterson’s Alex Cross series. In fact one of the characters in the book, Vic Shattuck, is a FBI agent with a psychology background.

The story opens on September 10, 2011 in New York City. The author sets the scene so that as a non New Yorker, you can experience the horror the survivors of the attack felt. People were searching for loved ones, hoping, praying they would be found. The police, the FBI and forensics were consumed with the tragedy that had befallen the city. Imagine if during this time, a serial killer struck the city. That is the premise of the book.

I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it. As I read the book, I found myself understanding the tragedy of 9/11 at a much deeper and more personal level. The main character Allison Taylor, an independent woman, writes for the fashion industry in New York City. She has had a rough childhood and has some issues. Most of the characters in the book have, as Allison states, “have their own crosses to bear.”

That may be the greatest strength of the book, the realization that most of the people we meet are struggling with something. The neighbor across the hall, the handyman working in the apartment and our co-workers all may be dealing with some issue or another. The positive aspect of 9/11 was that many people reached out to others to help or get help in a way that they hadn’t before.

We are given a glimpse of the killer relatively early in the story. Sometimes the killer is talking to us directly and we see him struggling with a whole variety of issues himself. The conclusion of the story provides an unexpected twist and makes us want to read the upcoming book, Sleepwalker.

This book is part of the “K.I.S.S. and Teal” project to support Ovarian Cancer. Ovarian Cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer and a leading cause of cancer death for women. K.i.s.s. is a mnemonic for “know the important signs and symptoms” and Teal is the color of ovarian cancer awareness. Visit the website today and become more informed. Better yet, host a book club and read this book and take a few minutes to review the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.